Arapiles Day 2

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Go back to Arapiles Day 1.

The Watchtower Crack

Watchtower Crack.

Next day, we headed back to the crag for The Watchtower Crack, a 4 pitch 16. If you told me that the route was a solid 5.9, I would not argue with that. Touch exciting especially with nothing larger than a #4 Camalot – perfectly safe but you need to work some moves a bit above the last carrot bolt. On the upside, we got to clip our first carrot bolts (we came back to Australia armed with a dozen hangers) and the route remained nicely shaded being tucked into a large dihedral. Though we were positively baking on the hike down, we decided to make a quick detour to the shady backside of the The Pharos formation and its well reputed Lamplighter – a very appealing 3-pitcher with another sandbag rating of 14. The second pitch was indeed excellent and the third offered up a downwardly flaring chimney requisite of most classics. A quick rehydration in Natimuk and an hour later we were in Halls Gap, the touristy basecamp for the Grampians National Park.

Photos

Arapiles

Mount Arapiles (Dec. 2019).

Arapiles

Shirley on approach on our day two at Mount Arapiles (Dec. 2019).

Arapiles

A denizen of Mount Arapiles (Dec. 2019).

Arapiles

Shirley hiking up towards the Watchtower Faces (Dec. 2019).

The Watchtower Crack

Starting up The Watchtower Crack on Right Watchtower Face (Dec. 2019).

The Watchtower Crack

Higher on pitch 1 (Dec. 2019).

The Watchtower Crack

Shirley and Mitre Rock in the distance (Dec. 2019).

The Watchtower Crack

More pitch 1 action (Dec. 2019).

The Watchtower Crack

Shirley arriving at the first belay (Dec. 2019).

The Watchtower Crack

Leading pitch 2 (Dec. 2019).

The Watchtower Crack

Shirley starting up pitch 2 of The Watchtower Crack (Dec. 2019).

The Watchtower Crack

Mitre Rock from low on The Watchtower Crack route (Dec. 2019).

The Watchtower Crack

Shirley higher on pitch 2 (Dec. 2019).

The Watchtower Crack

Views across the Right Watchtower Face from the second belay (Dec. 2019).

The Watchtower Crack

Looking back at Shirley from the start of pitch 3 of The Watchtower Crack (Dec. 2019)

The Watchtower Crack

Leading pitch 3 of The Watchtower Crack (Dec. 2019).

The Watchtower Crack

A dressed up carrot bolt (Dec. 2019).

The Watchtower Crack

Shirley on pitch 3 (Dec. 2019).

The Watchtower Crack

Starting the lead of pitch 4 (Dec. 2019).

The Watchtower Crack

Looking back at Shirley from above the difficulties on pitch 4 (Dec. 2019).

The Watchtower Crack

Higher on pitch 4 (Dec. 2019).

The Watchtower Crack

Shirley topping out (Dec. 2019).

The Watchtower Crack

At the top of the wall (Dec. 2019).

The Watchtower Crack

A view of the crux pitch 3 from the rappels (Dec. 2019).

The Watchtower Crack

Shirley rapping down (second of two) with most of the The Watchtower Crack route visible. Click photo for a video (Dec. 2019).

Lamplighter

Changing course and hiking over to the Pharos formation (Dec. 2019).

Arapiles

The Pharos formation (Dec. 2019).

Lamplighter

Shirley topping out on pitch 1 of Lamplighter on the Pharos (Dec. 2019).

Lamplighter

Looking back at Shirley from the start of pitch 2 (Dec. 2019).

Lamplighter

Leading pitch 2 of Lamplighter (Dec. 2019).

Lamplighter

And one more look back from pitch 2 lead (Dec. 2019).

Lamplighter

Shirley topping out on the very nice pitch 2 of Lamplighter (Dec. 2019).

Lamplighter

A buttshot from pitch 3 (Dec. 2019).

Lamplighter

Shirley on pitch 3 of Lamplighter – this is the section below the chimney (Dec. 2019).

Lamplighter

Shirley in the finishing chimney on pitch 3 of Lamplighter (Dec. 2019).

Lamplighter

Shirley finishing the Lamplighter route (Dec. 2019).

Lamplighter

Rapping down into the notch behind the Pharos (Dec. 2019).

Lamplighter

Hiking down from the backside of the Pharos formation (Dec. 2019).

Arapiles

Admiring the geology of Mount Arapiles at the base of the Pharos (Dec. 2019).

Arapiles

Hiking down with the Pharos formation in the background (Dec. 2019).

Arapiles

Hiking back to the car (Dec. 2019).

Arapiles

A black roo (Dec. 2019).

Arapiles

Bard Buttress in profile (Dec. 2019).

Arapiles

Packing up for the short drive over to the Grampians (Dec. 2019).

Grampians

Our very nice little cabin in Halls Gap, Victoria near to Grampians National Park (Dec. 2019).

Go to Grampians Day 1.
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